Canva
2025
I joined an art collective and decided I would take the leap of faith to market myself as an artist. As a kid making original pieces I always signed them with 'JY', representing my government name, but as I got older and started to look at current artists and those who came before me, I wanted a way to incorporate my heritage, as well as my aspirations in my art signature/logo. This logo was the result.
To break it down, Mbomda is my middle name. I was named after my paternal great-grandmother, Megni-Mbomda, a well respected woman. Léonella is my nickname that was originally going to be my first name. My mom, her close friends, and her family members always called me Léonella. It means 'little lioness' in French, represented by the paw prints. Jemison is my first name, and my dad named me after Dr. Mae C. Jemison, the first Black woman to go to space. The star represents the aspect of being named after an astronaut who was able to witness physical stars, but it also represents "the star of unity" seen on the Cameroonian flag.
As a kid I was always a bit annoyed that I had so many names to answer to, but as an adult I am truly grateful that I have these three iconic names. It really shows the importance of naming your children, because most times they truly live up to the name(s) you give them.
Léonella © 2025
